Cosmopolis — Volume 1

"Cosmopolis — Volume 1" by Paul Bourget is a story set against the backdrop of a rapidly changing world showcases a clash between old traditions and the allure of modernity. The story opens in a Rome bookstore, where the bookish Ribalta meets Marquis de Montfanon, starting conversations about books, history, and society itself. Montfanon doesn't like the modern, cosmopolitan lifestyle that people like Baron Hafner and his daughter Fanny represent. However, a dynamic cast of characters is brought forth and embody that the tension between tradition and modernity, which causes a complicated weave of love and status. As Montfanon struggles with both his own internal biases and feelings towards Fanny, the tale builds to show these tensions.